Toy vehicle



:Sept. 1, 1936. -J. L. BONANNO TOY VEHICLE Filed Sept. 14, 1933 INVENTOR h JOSC ZgY L Bonanno ATTORN E Y the frame member I6.

Patented Sept. 1, 1936 TOY VEHICLE Joseph L. Bonanno, Forest Hills, N. Y., assignor to The Lionel Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 14, 1933, Serial No. 689,356

9 Claims.

' The present invention relates to toy vehicles and is more particularly directed toward a toy vehicle such as a. toy locomotive having a spring propulsion motor and provided with a dry cell and switcharrangement for controlling the lighting of a bulb, such as a headlight bulb. Thepresent invention contemplates an arrangement whereby a battery or dry cell may be readily inserted into or removed from the body of the toy. :The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, one of the many embodiments in which the invention may .take form, it being understood that the drawing is illustrative of the invention rather than limiting-the same. In the drawing:

I .Fig. l is a side. elevational view of a mechanical toy loccmotive with battery operated headlight, the. parts beingv shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The propulsion unit of the toy locomotive is indicated at l0. It comprises a mechanical motor having a propulsion spring l l for driving a train of gears which actuate the driving wheels indicated at l2. This propulsion unit has two side frame members, indicated at I3 and I4 and a cross or distance piece Hi. The propulsion unit is secured to a locomotive frame forming member 55, which extends the entire length of the toy locomotive. Any suitable method of securemen may be employed.

As shown in the drawing, the plates l3 and I 4 are shown with notches I! to receive a portion of The frame member I6 is recessed as indicated at E8 to receive the ends I 9, 53 of the anchorage member 23 to which the spring H is attached. Outwardly bent members .20 on the frame plates l 3 and I4 engage the upper surface of the locomotive plate forming unit It.

A sheet metal stamping 22 is secured to the frame forming unit I 6, this stamping being shaped to simulate the boiler and cab of the locomotive. It carries a boiler front stamping indicated at 23, and a headlight bulb and socket 24, and 25 are shown as secured to the boiler front.

In the drawing, a conventional dry cell is indicated at 33. The usual paper case about the dry cell is not employed. This dry cell extends through an opening 3i formed in the frame member it. A sheet metal strip 32 is secured to the rear end of the locomotive frame unit stamping [6. It extends upwardly to the rear of the battery 33, as indicated. A resilient strip 33 is sein the drawing. One then presses on the bottom of the dry cell so as to flex the spring finger 36. A spring finger 3'! then presses the dry cell to the full line position so that its lower edge overlies the cross piece i5 and its side Walls are brought against the ends of the frame plates l3 and Id of the propulsion unit. To release the dry cell, one can press it sufiiciently to permit moving the bottom edge of the dry cell away from the cross piece it, whereby it can be readily grasped and taken out. The upper end of the stamping 32 pivotally and insulatedly supports a switch lever 38 having an inner end 39 which overlies the center contact post 43 of the dry cell. This switch lever is connected to the headlight by a lead indicated at 4 l It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, and I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy having an apertured body, a dry cell extending into the body through the aperture, a resilient member engaging one end of the dry cell, a fixed member engaging a portion of the edge of the opposite end of the dry cell, the dry cell being movable longitudinally past the fixed member and through the aperture to be brought against the resilient member, which flexes sufficiently to allow the dry cell to pass by the edge of the fixed member so that it may be secured between the two members.

2. A toy as claimed in claim 1, having a spring pressing against the side of the cell opposite the portion engaged by the fixed member and resiliently holding the cell in such position.

3. A toy as claimed in claim 1, having stop members engaging the side wall of the dry cell adjacent the fixed member and a spring engaging the dry cell opposite the stop members and pressing the cell against said members.

4. In a toy, means for supporting a dry cell for quick insertion or removal comprising a fixed U-shaped member adapted to engage the bottom edge of the dry cell and the side walls adjacent said edge, a fixedly supported spring spaced from the U-shaped member so as to engage the upper opposite edge of the dry cell, and a spring engageable with the side walls opposite the sides of the U-shaped member.

5. Ina toy locomotive, a spring motor propulsion unit having side frames and a cross piece adjacentthe ends of the side frames, a locomotive frame forming unit secured to the propulsion unit, the frame extending beyond the end" of the propulsion unit and having an opening adjacent the end of the propulsion unit adapted to receive a dry cell, and a resilientfinger carried by the frame to engage one end of the dry cell casing and press the other end against the cross piece.

6. In a toy locomotive,

adjacent the ends of the side frames, a locomotive frame forming unit secured to the propulsion unit, the frame extending beyond the end of the propulsion unit and having an opening adjacent the end of the propulsion unit adapted to receive a dry cell, a resilient finger carried by the frame to engage-one endof the dry cell casing and press the other end against the cross piece, and a spring carried by the frame forming unit and engaging the side walls of the .dry cell to press the cell against the ends of the side frames of the propulsion unit.

7 '7. In a toy locomotive, a spring motor propulsion unit having side frames and a cross piece adjacent the ends of the side frames, a locomotive frame forming unit secured to the propulsionunit, the frame extending beyond the end of the propulsion unit and having an openy a spring motor propulsion unit having side frames and a cross piece ing adjacent the end of the propulsion unit adapted to receive a dry cell, a resilient finger carried by the frame to engage one end of the dry cell casing and press the other end against the cross piece, and an insulatedly supported pivoted switch lever engageable with the center contact of the dry cell.

7 8. In a toy locomotive, a spring motor propulsion unit having side frames and a cross piece adjacent the ends of the side frames, a locomotive frame forming unit secured to the propulsion unit, the frame extending beyond the end of the propulsion unit and having an opening adjacent, the end of the propulsion unit adapted to receive a dry cell, a resilient finger carried by the frame to engage one end of the dry cell casing and press the other end against the cross piece, an insulatedly supported pivoted switch lever engageable with the center contact of the' dry cell, and a locomotive boiler and cab simulating member secured to the frame forming unit, the cab simulating portion enclosing the switch lever and upper end of the dry cell.

9. A battery lighted mechanically operated toy locomotive of small size comprising a boiler shell, motor works mountedtherebeneath and extending upwardly into the boiler shell, 3.

grounded socket and a lamp of the flashlight battery type mounted on thelocomotive, a cab formed at the rear end of the boiler shell, the floor of said cab being cut away to receive a flashlight battery cell in an upright position, support meansbeneath the cab bearing against and grounding the lower end of the cell, switch mechanism, and conductive means interconnecting the switch mechanism, the cell,rand the lamp socket.

JOSEPH L. BONANNO. 

